10 die as flash floods, landslides wreak havoc in Jammu
Jammu, Aug 26: There was devastation and deluge everywhere all across Jammu division which faced one of its worst ever rain-induced flood crisis in decades, also claiming at least ten lives in Doda and Reasi districts on Tuesday.
Unrelenting rains of high intensity triggered flash floods caused extensive damages to houses, roads, bridges and other structures besides critical infrastructure across the division, prominently fourth bridge on river Tawi in Jammu city.
All major water bodies – Tawi, Chenab, Ujh, Basanter, Ravi, Ranbir canal besides other seasonal streams and nallahs - crossed danger levels, thus making the situation further critical.
Six yatris died and 14 others were injured as a massive landslide-triggered by heavy rains hit Adhkwari area on Shri Mata Vaishnodevi yatra track in Katra town nestled in Trikuta hills in Reasi district.
As per eyewitnesses account, around 20 people were feared trapped under the debris.
In Doda district, four people lost their lives during the last 24 hours in house collapse and flash floods incidents in different areas including Gandoh and Thathri.
Except twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, all other eight districts of the region were badly impacted by the torrential rains continuing for the last more than 24 hours in the division, leading to a flood emergency situation.
Still the region is waiting with bated breath amid all its rivers, mainly Tawi, Chenab, Ujh, Basantar, Ravi, Ranbir canal, Neeru, Kalnai, besides other seasonal streams and nullahs flowing several feet above danger levels and forecast for “heavy to very heavy rains” for another 24 hours or so.
Heavy rains triggering flash floods, landslides and soil erosion forced the closure of Srinagar Jammu National Highway, disrupted traffic movement on all major National Highway stretches including Jammu-Pathankot NH besides other main roads and link roads in eight districts. Rail and air traffic too remained affected.
Thousands of train passengers got stranded in Jammu and several other places as around dozens of trains were cancelled and almost an equal number of trains were short-terminated or short-originated.
Reasi, Doda, Jammu, Kathua, Samba and Kishtwar districts remained epicentre of flood emergency situation as several roads caved in; bridges damaged; houses collapsed and submerged.
However, there was no exact assessment of damages as even the authorities remained clueless on this account amid unrelenting rains.
Ramban and Udhampur districts too suffered in terms of connectivity as landslides blocked several roads and damaged residential and other structures.
Divisional Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar, while giving an update of Jammu situation to the media, said that in the division, major affected districts were Kathua, Samba, Jammu, Doda and Kishtwar. “Swollen Tawi, Chenab, Basantar crossed alert level while Ujh river too had touched alert level during the day. Water level was rising in Ravi river. As a consequence, the low-lying areas have been flooded. In this connection, on Monday, we had issued advisories and evacuated people from low-lying areas along nullahs and rivers. Fortunately, there is no casualty in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts,” Divisional Commissioner said.
As regards damage to public and private properties, he said, “Yes, a lot of damage has happened but an assessment in this connection will be made after the rain stops and water recedes. Several roads have been damaged. As there is prediction of continuous very heavy rains till late night, we have ordered the closure of all educational institutions, including colleges and universities across Jammu division. Besides, the government offices too have been closed to restrict the movement. We have even requested the private establishments to observe closure in case rains continue tomorrow to help the administration.”
He stated that in Jammu city, restrictions were imposed on night movement after 9 pm. Seeking cooperation from citizens, he asked them to stay alert. In a special caution for people living in vulnerable areas, the Divisional Commissioner asked the people to avoid sleeping on the ground floor.
Later Deputy Commissioner Jammu issued an order notifying restrictions on night movement under Section 163 BNSS from 9 pm (on August 26) to 8 am on August 27.
LANDSLIDE AT SMVD TRACK CLAIMS 6 LIVES, SEVERAL FEARED TRAPPED
Six yatris died and 14 others sustained injuries when a landslide hit the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi track near an eatery in Adhkwari.
“A landslide incident has occurred near Inderprastha Bhojnalaya at Adhkwari, some injuries are feared. Rescue operations are underway along with the required manpower and machinery,” Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) posted on its official ‘X’ handle. Later, it confirmed five deaths (4 males, one female) besides 14 injured persons.
Those engaged in rescue operations, however, stated that six persons died, 14 others sustained injuries while around twenty persons were feared trapped under the debris.
Rescue operations were going on in full swing. Out of six deceased, only one could be identified, the identity of others was yet to be ascertained. The injured also included Sangeeta, 47; Devi Lal, 42; Vaishnavi, 15; Kiran, 62; Dolly, 30; Urmi, 6; Umang, 24; Kamlesh, 50; Savitri, 48; Kamlesh, 32 and Gouran, 32. They were from Uttar Pradesh, Mohali and Haryana.
Yatra through Himkoti route was already suspended since morning. However, the Shrine Board later suspended Yatra on this route also, following the landslide incident. Chopper service and battery car service were already suspended in the wake of persisting inclement weather conditions.
4 DIE IN DODA HOUSE COLLAPSE, FLASH FLOODS
With regard to rains-related deaths in Doda, the Divisional Commissioner Jammu stated that three deaths were reported from the district during the last 24 hours.
“Two persons were killed in house collapse incidents after they were hit by flash floods-induced landslides. In a separate case a youngster slipped into a swollen nullah,” Divisional Commissioner said. Later, one more death in flash floods was reported.
The deceased were identified as Rubina Begu Rubina Begum, wife of Imtiaz Hussain, resident of Sarla Samaie; Asiya, daughter of Mohd Ramzan, resident of Amratpura Chenyas; Noor Mohd, son of Mohd Iqbal Wani, resident of Tanta Kahara and Rahila, daughter of late Abdul Kabir, resident of village Thanala, Bhaderwah.
POWER SUPPLY, MOBILE-INTERNET SERVICES AFFECTED
The flood-like situation badly impacted power, water and other essential services.
Throughout Jammu province, including the winter capital city and its adjoining areas, mobile, Wi-Fi internet services too were affected.
Outage further compounded multiple woes of citizens and authorities alike
“Due to technical issues at our end, mobile services may temporarily get affected. Rest assured, we are on the job to rectify the issue at the earliest,” one of the service providers stated.
JAMMU-KATRA TRACK CLOSED
Jammu-Katra rail track was closed till further orders amid apprehensions of damages.
In Jammu city, the fourth bridge on Tawi in the winter capital city suffered extensive damage from Bhagwati Nagar end, main Tawi bridge from Bikram Chowk was already closed for traffic as a precautionary measure.
Later the administration stopped movement on other two bridges as well.
All low lying areas and vulnerable areas in the city, its outskirts and the areas along Tawi, Chenab, Ranbir canal were submerged under several feet of water.
Administration also evacuated people from Qasim, Nagar, Beli Charana and adjoining areas to safer places.
Situation was scary in the low-lying areas across Jammu district. Entire campuses of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology Jammu and GCET Jammu were submerged.
By 3 pm, as the Chenab river in Akhnoor was flowing 1.6 feet above the danger mark, the district administration declared a high alert. “The administration is keeping an eye on the areas adjacent to the river to rescue people,” officials said.
Brief relief came for the authorities and the people alike when rains stopped in Jammu city at around 3.45 pm or so. Yet the reprieve hardly lasted one hour as rain resumed around 4.45 pm and with greater intensity.
6 UDHAMPUR ROADS CLOSED
In Udhampur district, several roads were damaged in heavy rainfall and many others were blocked due to landslides, mudslides or flooding at vulnerable stretches.
Deputy Commissioner Udhampur Saloni Rai, through a traffic advisory, informed that traffic restrictions would remain in force on Ramnagar-Udhampur road; Chenani-Patnitop road; Ramnagar-Basantgarh road; Chenani-Sudh Mahadev-Mantalai road; Sudhmahadev-Latti-Dudu-Shivgali road and Panchari-Kainthgali-Moungri road until rain stopped and restoration work completed.
In Samba district, by late evening, bridges on Basantar river were restored for traffic while Bari Brahmana-Purmandal road and Samba-Mansar remained closed and the restoration work could not be completed.
Jammu district administration later in the evening communicated that more than 3500 people were evacuated to safety following incessant rains that triggered flash floods and waterlogging across the district.
“Teams from district administration, J&K police, NDRF, SDRF, Indian Army and local volunteers are working on evacuation and relief in the worst-hit areas while authorities are also focussed on restoring critical infrastructure and essential services,” the authorities stated.
Immediate priority was to move residents from vulnerable pockets to safer locations while ensuring food, clean water and medical care at temporary shelters.
In RS Pura, 85 people were shifted from Balool to secure sites. In Pargwal, 347 residents from Hamirpur Kona and village Gujral were relocated in Akhnoor and Jammu.
In Jammu North, 160 people were evacuated from Nai Basti and Lower Muthi and were sheltered at Kailash Resorts, Muthi, where langar facilities were arranged.
In Nagrota, 100 people were moved to Kondoli Mandir, while restoration teams were clearing debris from highways to reopen routes for emergency services.
In Suchetgarh, two families comprising 15 members were rescued after their houses collapsed in Badyal Quazian and Tibba Bains.
In Indra Nagar and Ballol areas of Jammu, 150 residents were shifted to safety, some relocated to Brij Nagar. In Sittriyala, 45 people were evacuated and a relief camp was established at CHC Jourian. In Satwari, 300 residents were shifted to HSS Satwari where authorities provided full meals and water supplies through community kitchens.
Across Khour and Pargwal, more than 500 people were rescued from Indri, Maan Chak, Bakore, Hamirpur Kona and Gajral, with temporary shelters arranged for the displaced. In Khour, 48 individuals were housed at Government High School Garkhal and another 50 at the Community Hall Garkhal.
“The district administration has established relief camps at multiple locations, with Youth Hostel Jammu serving as a major temporary shelter. Community kitchens at Muthi and Satwari are providing food, while medical teams are stationed at all major relief sites. Restoration of power, water supply and road connectivity is being taken up on priority, with Tehsildar Nagrota overseeing debris clearance on highways,” Deputy Commissioner Jammu Rakesh Minhas said, adding, “The situation is being continuously monitored, with further updates to be issued as the response progresses.
“The coordinated efforts of the district administration, Police, NDRF, SDRF, army and civil society volunteers ensured no loss of life. Public cooperation has also been recognised as critical to the success of the operations,” he said.
The Indian Army also launched extensive Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations in flood-affected areas of Jammu region, deploying multiple rescue columns and helicopters to evacuate stranded civilians, students, and security personnel.
Four rescue columns were deployed at different locations in Jammu. In Garhi Garh, RS Pura sector, 7 civilians, including one child, were rescued while in Shergarh, RS Pura, around 10–12 civilians trapped inside a building were rescued.
Army also evacuates students stranded inside Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu. In Sohanjana, a rescue column evacuated students trapped at a Government School.
In Mamun sector, in coordinated ground and helicopter rescue missions, in Kachle village, seven civilians were airlifted to Taragarh Government Senior Secondary School; two individuals were rescued by helicopter in Shahpur Kandi dam area in Kathua. Eleven BSF personnel safely evacuated from Nikka Border Out Post. Till late evening, at Bhariyal, evacuation process was underway as about 50 civilians and nine army personnel trapped at the post.
Nine civilians rescued with helicopter assistance due to landslides and inaccessibility. In Nad village, rising water levels hampered ground rescue yet civilians were successfully evacuated with the help of police boats while in Makaura village, nearly 70 civilians stranded by floods were shifted to safety using boats.
OVER 20 TRAINS CANCELLED, AROUND 30 SHORT-TERMINATED, SHORT-ORIGINATED
Over 20 trains were cancelled while over 30 trains were short-terminated and short originated due to heavy soil erosion and flash flood in Chakki River.
As per the Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO), Northern Railway, the rail traffic was also temporarily suspended between Jammu Tawi-Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra; Jammu Tawi-Bari Brahmana section.
As a consequence, thousands of passengers were stranded.
However, they were provided with food and shelter by the railway authorities in collaboration with civil society.
